Notre Dame de Namur (NDNU) is often ranked among the most diverse higher education campuses with a population that is roughly two-thirds students of color.
Federally designated as a Hispanic serving institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institution (AANAPISI), NDNU’s commitment to diversity started with its founding by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1851 to provide access to education for underserved populations.
“We at Notre Dame celebrate diversity,” said Dr. Hernan Bucheli, provost and senior vice president for academic and enrollment affairs. “It really is important for us because it started with our mission. It’s not new, it’s just been compounding and we’ve been getting better and better at it.”
Bucheli added that NDNU celebrates diversity through its Catholic mission and values, the curriculum and community-based learning and research experiences that engage students at the Belmont, Calif., school.
Students are required to take nine credits of culture and diversity classes and community-based learning classes. Student-outcomes surveys showed that, while students “have to take [the classes], they end up getting a lot out of it,” Bucheli said.
An English class last year, for instance, visited a residential program for recently incarcerated women for a joint creative writing class over several sessions.
“The students found that incredibly rewarding and eye-opening,” said Zack Rogow, assistant director of university communications and media relations at NDNU.
